Dulcie smiled at the reporter and replied, “From what I have seen of the friendly people who live here, I am sure I will feel at home very soon. I am sure Leader Canton will be showing me more of your lands in the near future, and I am certainly looking forward to learning all I can of your customs and traditions in order to be of help to my husband.”

“That is all for now, reporter,” Canton said quietly but firmly as he helped Dulcie climb inside the vehicle. He made a note to have a little stool added as a standard to all of the vehicles that she might ride in so that she found it easy to enter and leave a vehicle without risk of falling. He was so tall it was a simple matter for him to get inside, but if he had not been here to lift the tiny woman, she would have found it difficult to climb in. He noted that Dulcie gave the reporter a little nod and polite smile, and he was proud of her. She was gracious and off to a great start. He had no doubt that the short interlude would be splattered all over the stations within minutes.

“Are all of your arrivals met with so much enthusiasm, Leader Canton?” she inquired.

“You may address me informally when Nurick is our driver, wife. He has been with our family for many years, as has his father and grandfather before. Nurick, this is my wife, Princess Dulcie.”

“I am most pleased to meet you, Lady.” Nurick smiled happily.

Dulcie immediately liked the pleasant young man. He was closer to her in age than her husband. “It is a pleasure, Nurick,” she said with a friendly smile. “So, husband, do you always have such a gathering when you return home?” she repeated her question.

“I can honestly tell you that even if we arrived in the middle of the night, and the weather was cold and snow flying everywhere, there would be a crowd to greet me and welcome me. I feel truly humbled by such love and affection,” he added.

“Canton is a great Leader,” Nurick added his opinion. “He is much loved by everyone.”

“Not everyone,” Canton disagreed.

“Only by fools who wish for the power you have…” Nurick was comfortable enough to argue with the Leader. “Lady, your husband is a modest man. He has done much to make our land prosperous and to end poverty. I know for a fact that while he truly was smitten with your beauty, he would not have offered for you if it would not help the people of Anopy. Such selfishness is beyond Canton… That is why he is a good Leader.”

“Nurick, you say too much.” Canton was embarrassed.

“I do not want you to forget to tell your bride that it was she you wanted, Canton. The building material was second only to her.”

“I thank you for telling me, Nurick,” Dulcie said softly, looking into Canton’s dark eyes and smiling warmly. “Canton mentioned as much to me, but I feared it was only to make me feel better. I am happy to know it is the truth. It warms my heart,” she admitted.

“I would not lie of such things, little Princess,” Canton spoke, his tone gentle.

“I did not know you then. I believe Father chose well for me,” she stated, her words simple, but not lost on her husband.

“Those words warm my heart,” he said, repeating her own words, and letting her know he understood her feelings because he shared in them.

Their drive took quite a while and Canton was careful to point out things he felt Dulcie would need to know. He also told her quite firmly that she was not to go anywhere alone until he gave permission. The look she gave him was full of temper and indignation and he lowered his voice and said, “This is not up for discussion, Little Princess. While nearly everyone here will treat you with respect, there are some who would do you harm simply because you are my wife; others because you are from another land and they mistrust all outsiders. Until you know what areas are safe, and the people who are to be trusted, you will need an escort to guide you about. Do you understand?”

She nodded reluctantly, somewhat mollified that he did not intend to suffocate her indefinitely, and went back to listening to him speak. She saw many interesting places that she planned to explore later. They finally turned into a driveway and drove toward a huge, modern building. They had to stop at another gate, enter a code, and then were admitted by a guard. They drove up to a side entrance that was protected from the elements, and Canton helped her out of the vehicle. “Thank you, Nurick,” Canton said politely to the younger man.

Canton held open the door for her and they walked inside and Dulcie immediately felt homesick. The castle she had called home for years was nothing like this place. It felt cold and unwelcoming.

“You are disappointed?” Canton asked, awaiting her reaction.

“It is so white… so modern; nothing like home.”

“You do not like it, do you, little Princess?” Her answer was important to him.

“No, Canton, I do not,” she truthfully answered, feeling disappointed.

“It is the State Building; I do not own it, Dulcie. We must stay here at times, but I have another residence that I prefer. This place is not like a home. It was built by a former Leader and built in a style he felt would impress others. I am truly pleased you like it no more than I do.” He smiled reassuringly, and added, “We must reside here for now while I tend to matters neglected in my absence. I will try to make sure you have amusements so you do not grow bored.”

“I am used to training for long hours at a time.”

“As a warrior? The women of Anopy are not warriors,” he told her yet again.

“I am not from Anopy and I am a warrior,” she replied, telling him once again that she was not like the women here, and she would not give up herself.

“Princess Dulcie, we will discuss this matter another time,” Leader Canton said formally, but she had no trouble reading the look in his dark eyes as they were joined by three women. Not one of the females was smiling and she sensed their animosity toward her before they spoke.

“Welcome home, Leader Canton. I can see you have procured the building materials we so desperately need on Anopy.”

“Representative Dantonne, may I introduce my wife, Princess Dulcie. Princess Dulcie, this is Representative Dantonne, a member of my Council of Advisors.”

Dulcie’s smile faded when it was apparent Representative Dantonne had no intention of acknowledging the introduction, or of introducing the two younger women who stood beside her, staring at her as if she were a worm of some sort. Dulcie held out her hand when Dantonne started to speak to Canton again about a matter she claimed was of grave importance, but sounded stupid to Dulcie. “Excuse me, Leader Canton, but even if Representative Dantonne has the manners of a boor, I would be introduced to her companions. I am sure it is most embarrassing for them to have their very presence ignored…? I am Princess Dulcie, and your name?” She looked at one of the startled young women pointedly.

“I am Representative Dantonne’s assistant, Princess Dulcie. I am called Agate.” The woman offered a polite smile, which Dulcie promptly returned.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Agate.” Dulcie offered her a hand to shake, and Agate promptly shook hands. “And you are…?”

“I am Representative Dantonne’s daughter, Marcelle, Princess Dulcie.” Her smile was tentative, as if she feared Dulcie would dislike her.

“I am also pleased to meet you, Marcelle. Do you also work for your mother as her aide?” she questioned as she shook her hand in greeting.

“No, Princess Dulcie; I am home from school. I am studying health-related matters and would be a healer.” She looked at her mother and Dulcie was immediately aware of tension between the two women. Dantonne’s expression clearly said that Marcelle would never be a healer, and Marcelle’s was full of defiance. Dulcie decided she was on Marcelle’s side and would aid her all she could in her endeavor to do as she pleased with her life.

“Leader Canton, we really must speak of State matters!” Representative Dantonne insisted.

“Representative Dantonne...” Canton’s voice was deep and low and Dulcie realized he was furious and doing his best not to show his anger. She feared she was in grave trouble for being rude to the woman, especially when she did not know the woman’s value to her husband. But when he spoke again, she relaxed a bit. “Surely nothing is so urgent that I do not have time to take my newly-arrived wife to our private chambers and make sure she is comfortable after our long journey. While you might look upon her and merely see building materials procured for Anopy, I look upon her and see my lovely bride who is deserving of my attention. Excuse us. When I am ready, I will call all of the Representatives into the Council room. Until then, you may go about your duties.”

“I fear I mistook the matter of your marriage as one of need and sacrifice,” the woman said in a choked voice.

“While I love Anopy, I fear I am not quite so self-sacrificing, Representative Dantonne. I have waited for Princess Dulcie to reach an age that King Betarn would consider her ready for marriage. The building materials are in exchange for the ore we shall trade. My wife is precious to me.” He made it known that Dantonne had deeply offended him and her face turned almost sickly in appearance. “Come along, Princess Dulcie, and we shall continue to our chambers.” He nodded politely to the two younger women and led his wife away.

Dulcie waited until they were out of hearing and whispered, “Thank you, husband.”

“Do not thank me yet, little Princess. You have earned a punishment for calling that woman a boor. As my wife, you must obey protocol.”

“Even if she is a boor?” Dulcie asked in dismay.

“Even then, Dulcie.” He led her down a long corridor and finally came to a stop in front of door that was labeled ‘Leader Canton, Private’. He unlocked the door by using the scanner, and then ushered her inside.

Dulcie did not get a moment to look around before Canton bent her over a small, but sturdy, table right inside the entryway, and brought his hand down smartly over her short skirt. “Ouch!” she complained. “Please, sir, I am still tender!” she reminded him.

“When a punishment is earned, it is given as soon as possible, and it does not matter how sore you are from another punishment.” He gave her another spank, and she cried out again. His hand fell three more times, and then he stood her up. “That is but a small punishment, little Princess. If the circumstances were different, I would have bared you and spanked you thoroughly, but Representative Dantonne was exceedingly rude toward you, and I understand and respect your feelings. But as my wife, you cannot treat anyone the way you did her. It is not done. Are we clear?”

“Yes, Canton,” Dulcie replied. “But she is permitted her rudeness?”

“Her husband will be advised of her behavior,” Canton replied, and then smiled wickedly. “I daresay her spanking will be much worse than the one you just received.” He leaned down to kiss her and asked, “May we put this incident behind us now? I would see a smile on your face when I show you our chambers.”

“I am not going to hold a grudge over this incident, Canton. I was not so upset for her rudeness towards myself as I was at her rudeness toward the two younger women with her. Dantonne should have introduced them immediately.”

“As I shall remind her husband, little Princess. Is there anything else, perhaps?” he asked, but his dark eyes were twinkling.

“No, my husband,” she said. “I can see you are used to dealing with Dantonne,” she added mischievously. Canton chuckled, and then she giggled, only to stop when his dark eyes looked at her in that certain way of his that warned her she might be going too far. “Do not fear, Canton. I have learned that I must be circumspect even if someone is a boor. Now that I know you have your own methods of dealing with such things, there will be no need for me to misbehave and earn myself a punishment.”

“Well put,” he agreed. “This, of course, is the entry. Unless we invite guests to visit, this is where anyone will remain if they are dropping off something, or if they need to speak to me. This should not occur often, and if someone comes while I am away, they are to remain here.”

“Even if I have invited someone?” she asked.

“No, if you invite a friend to come visit, then of course, she is permitted inside our quarters. That is different. What I am trying to say is that you are not expected to play hostess to someone who comes by without an invitation. Those people who wish to discuss matters of State need to come to my office. These are our private quarters, but once in a while someone will need help during an odd hour.”

Dulcie nodded. She understood that well. Her father dealt with that, too. The next room they entered was much larger.

“This is where we relax and entertain.” He watched her lavender eyes fill with pleasure, and he relaxed immediately. “I redid these rooms when I took over as Leader. While I will not waste the money in our treasury to redo the State building as a whole, I could not live with that style in my private rooms. I’m happy to see by your expression that you like these chambers.”

“This is lovely, Canton. Thank you so much. It will not be such a hardship to live here now.” She was sincere.

“You are free to add your own touches and style, Dulcie. These are your quarters, too. The same goes for our home when I can spare the time to take you there.”

“Canton, how long will you remain Leader?” she asked.

“Until I am challenged either in battle or by vote.” He saw her pale. “It was a test of battle that earned my right to be here, little Princess. If I did not do a good job, I could be voted out, or challenged. A challenger must have substantial support before his challenge can be made. It is not a matter of someone waking up some day and thinking ‘I will challenge the present Leader and take over Anopy’. A challenger must have signatures of at least forty per cent of the voters and at least half of the Representatives on the Council must agree to the challenge. It is not a casual thing. If a Leader grows old or weak or disabled in health or body, it is his responsibility to appoint a new Leader who will then be voted upon. A Leader can also decide he does not wish the responsibility any longer and use the same process to resign.”

“It sounds complicated. My brother will take over as King, then his son after him. It is the way of our land. It is my father’s responsibility to train my brother.”

“I think your brother will be a good King.”

“I do, too,” she agreed. “Let’s see the rest of our apartment,” she suggested.

“This is our dining area. We rarely use this room… or the kitchen.” He showed her the room. “Our meals are usually in the large dining room with many others in attendance.”

“Do we use the same protocol as aboard ship?” she asked.

“Yes,” he replied and heard her groan.

“Canton, that is just so wrong on so many levels!” She felt like smacking him. “Meals are a time for laughter and conversation. And, food should be served after people are seated, while it is still hot. It is so foolish to stand and wait until everyone arrives to be permitted to sit down and enjoy the food that is on your plate growing colder by the second. It serves no purpose.”

“Do you not think that a person who is late feels the ire of everyone else when their food is cold?”

“Why should everyone be punished for the actions of one person? That person should be excused from dinner if they cannot arrive on time. And, husband, there are exceptions to that. Sometimes things come up that are out of that person’s control. I am sure there are children here… What if one of them makes a parent late?”

“It has always been done this way, Dulcie.”

“You need to change it, Canton. Truly. It sounds more like a former Leader was on an ego trip when this custom started.”

“I will consider your arguments, but until a decision is made, you will observe the current protocol.”

“It would not hurt a thing to give it a try,” she added.

“I have heard enough on the subject for now, wife,” he said firmly. “Let us see our bedchamber and the bathing chamber.”

Dulcie did not argue with her husband. It was time to let the matter of meals drop for now. But, she promised herself, it was one issue she was not prepared to live with much longer. If necessary, she would take drastic measures to bring about a change.